Fun Knit and Crochet in the Summertime!!

Summer is nearly upon us and there is no need to put down your needles!  I have been working on some light and fun projects to welcome the warm weather.

I was so inspired by the Summer 2017 issue of Knitscene Magazine! The cover tank top called my name, as did Queensland Savannah Yarn in minty green and black.  The yarn is made of a yummy combo of linen and silk.  It has a beautiful drape and feels great against my skin!

There are some other great patterns in this issue like my next project:

So, we’ve had Katia’s Washi  and Washi Print yarn (a bamboo, polyester machine washable tape) in the store and I’ve been dying to make a summer hat.

It crocheted up in a couple of hours and I was so surprised by how pliable the brim came out!  Word got out and everyone at the store started making one for themselves.

Bonus:  The pattern is free with purchase of yarn (we’ll send it with an online order, or come in the store)!

Ready for the beach!

Enjoy your lazy, hazy, breezy fiber filled summer!

Pumpkin Yarn Bombing Contest

Yarn Bomb a pumpkin! The Knitting Tree, L.A., invites you to transform the noble gourd into a festive and artistic work of art. Make it fun and family friendly for the cooler autumn season.  Use your imagination to think of what a pumpkin can become. Serious or silly? Traditional or cutting edge? Just follow the yarn to express yourself.

Entries may be comprised of more than one artificial pumpkin as long as the maximum display size (below) is not exceeded. This activity is open to all ages. There will be no separation of age groups or skill sets. Please adhere to the Pumpkin Yarn Bomb guidelines. Enter your creative pumpkin and win some awesome prizes!!

Dates to be aware of:

• October 18 – October 22: Entries will be accepted at TKTLA
• October 25 – November 5: Pumpkins will be on display in TKTLA front window area
• October 29: Big Sunday celebration with announcement of winners for award categories.
• November 6 – November 12: Pumpkins will be picked up by entrants.*
  *Please note that any pumpkins left after Nov. 12 will be disposed of.

 

Award categories include Best in Show, Best Use of Yarn, Most Creative, and The Great Pumpkin. We can’t wait to see all the creative pumpkins everyone will make!

 

Welcome Blanket Gathering at TKTLA

 

Photo from the Welcome Blanket website

Have you heard the news? Pussyhat Project cofounder Jayna Zweiman has launched a new effort: the Welcome Blanket Project.  This new craftivism project takes the length of the proposed 2,000 mile border wall (between the U.S. and Mexico border) and re-conceptualizes it into “welcome” blankets for U.S. refugees.

Instead of wall, a concrete line, to keep people out, what if lines of yarn became 3,500,640 yards of blankets to welcome people in?

A welcome blanket is traditionally created to lovingly mark the arrival of a new person into the world. In the Welcome Blanket project, each handmade blanket is a physical manifestation of this celebration of new refugees and other immigrants: “Welcome to the United States and your new life here! We are so glad you have arrived.”

– from www.welcomeblanket.org

Like the Pussyhat Project, there are patterns on the website for knitters, crocheters, and even quilters! If you are new to knitting, they have a tutorial with step-by-step instructions (including images) to help you along the way with their Come Together knitting pattern. The Come Together knit blanket calls for bulky superwash wool, and we suggest Cascade 128 Superwash as a great yarn for it!

Each blanket must also be accompanied by a Welcome Note, which includes: your name and city, your family’s immigration story, and words of welcome and advice about living in the U.S.

 

Pictured: Welcome Note Template. Photo from Welcome Blanket website. Printable version of template can be found on the website.

These blankets, along with the welcome notes, will be displayed at an inaugural exhibition at the Smart Museum of Art at the University of Chicago, beginning July 18th through December 17th. The blankets will be distributed to refugees and other immigrants through resettlement organizations after the exhibition ends.

The Welcome Blanket Project needs about 3,200 blankets (that are 40″ x 40″ each) to reach 2,000 miles of length. All blankets must be sent to the Smart Museum of Art by September 5th. In order to help them achieve this number, we will be hosting a Welcome Blanket Gathering on Sunday, August 6th at 12pm (during our usual Sunday Brunch!).  We can help you get started on a blanket, or you can sit with us and continue working on one. Feel free to bring a friend, partner, or spouse along – we hope you will join us!

Embracing The Granny Square!

The 1970’s were particularly crafty times for my family.  I had 3 sisters, a brother, an artist/crafter father, and a mom who never stopped making.  We had little money, and back then it was actually cheaper to make things ourselves (sigh).

In between macrame plant holders and latch hook rugs, we were stuck on crochet. We made lots of these:

 Vintage vest from the 1970’s found on Etsy.

I loved making  projects with my family in our attempt to stay fashion forward.

So now the granny is back (many of my friends are grannies now, so it’s fitting!).  But, as always in the fashion world, it has been tweaked, refined, and used in unusual ways like:

Crochet dress-Moschino Resort 2017, Crochet dress-Alejandra Alonso Rojas 2017,  Men’s sweater-J W Anderson Fall 2017.  BTW, those shoes are taking the GS a bit far-but that’s how it goes on the runway (hope he didn’t slip)!

I saw all of this going on in the periphery with “oh no, not again” in my head.  But then a beautiful thing happened.  I noticed my extreme makerist friend, Ana Petrova, making tiny granny squares with very fine yarn and a tiny hook.  These delicate little squares, just under 2″ each, transformed the once clunky grannies into items of elegance.

I was so taken by these beauties, and was certain that the GS had come back to my future.  I wanted the tiny lovelies to be mine!  So, here I am…me and the granny…in love…again!  Here’s my attempt made with Lang Mille Colori Baby fingering yarn on a C hook.

I love these little jewels so much that I begged Ana (who does not teach much anymore) to teach a  GS class, and she said yes!

 You can sign up here if you have the GS urge too!

I have been so happy working on these squares, thinking of my family laughing and goofing around.  I warms my heart to know we were hip makers before our time!

Here we are in all of our 1976 glory (I am the goofy one on the far left)!

Start-O-Mania!!

It all started innocently enough.  I had just finished 2 big projects that had hard deadlines.  It was like cramming for finals.  I freakin’ Wonder Womaned it and raced to the finish.

Then I was done…with no more projects…nothing on the needles…empty project nest…hell on earth.

I skulked into the shop not sure I could make it through another projectless minute. Then, a miracle occurred. The new 5th Anniversary issue of Pom Pom arrived!  Oh, brighter days were ahead for sure!

I voraciously combed through the pages and came upon this beauty:

A comfy cozy sweater called “Soiree” by Emily Foden.  I picked out the perfect yarn and all was well.  But wait, what about that project from Pom Pom Spring 2017 that I have been lusting over?

“Tinea” by Rachel Brockman had been calling my name like a distant siren…

Ok, I’ll start 2 projects – it will be fun!!  So, I picked out the gorgeous organic, US made and milled Jagger Green Line yarn in just the right shades and got started.

But, OMG, look at that delicious new pattern by Lisa Hannes called “Martha’s Meadow!”

It’s geometric, but soft and textured.  I really don’t think I can live without it!  And, I’ve been waiting for an opportunity to use my Left Coast Dyeworks Urban Lux Papel Picado colorway. And look how perfect Neighborhood Fiber Company’s Luxury Capital Lace goes with it!!  Could life get any better?  I think not!

So now I have 3 new projects and am happily distracted from all the troubles of the outside world.

Life is good!

Are You Ready for Some Tree Scouts?!

We are excited to announce our
TKTLA Tree Scouts starting this summer!

What are Tree Scouts?  Join me this summer to build your crafting knowledge. As a Tree Scout, you will try a new craft every Sunday from 2-4pm (starting on Sunday, July 9th). The first project is our sash of course! I’m going to assume that most of you know how to knit. This is a very easy  scarf on the bias that is then joined at the bottom. You can find the sash pattern at the end of the blog post.

The best part is that you can decorate your sash with button badges that you have earned for each skill!!

Besides knitting the sash, some of the other projects for button badges include:

• Crocheting our beret
• Embroidering our troop number (Troop 1031!)
• Macrame bracelet
• Tunisian crochet headband
• Weaving coasters (and much more!!)

You will receive full instructions on the skills you need to make each project. You will also get to hang out with other like-minded crafters wearing their sashes and berets! I wonder who will get the most badge buttons????

At the end of the summer there will be a ceremony (party) to honor all Tree Scouts!

Join today at: theknittingtreela.com

Please make your sash before our first meeting on July 9th. Our colors are brown for the sash,  and green for the beret.  However, feel free to express yourself with whatever colors you’d like!

Cost: $10 per week (not including materials) OR $75 if you sign up for all 8!*
*Please note that we will provide any special materials for a small fee. 

Materials for Sash:  Approx. 200 yards of worsted weight yarn for the sash.  I used a Cascade 220 heather.  Size 8 needle, or needle to obtain gauge.  Gauge = 4 sts/in in Garter St.

 

 

Pattern for Tree Scout Sash:

Cast on 28 sts (or more if your “girls” need more coverage)

Row1: (WS) knit

Row 2: (RS) Kfb, knit to the last 2 sts, K2tog, place marker on the right side of your work (your pattern row)

Repeat rows 1 and 2 until piece measures approx. 50″

Sew as indicated in photo.

Wear proudly!

Tree Scout Pledge:

On my honor, I pledge to craft to the best of my ability

to weave and tuck in ends cleanly

to maintain a sunny disposition (unless my cat has eaten my needles again!)

to help out a fellow scout in need

and to follow directions, but bust a groove when the spirit moves me!

 

 

Needful Notions

Every knitter knows you need more than just needles and yarn to get by. We picked out a few necessary items that can come in handy for any crafty person.

Fiber to Fabric Magic Needle Keepers have become an absolute favorite at the shop! The perfect way to prevent your stitches from slipping off of your circular needles when you throw your project in your bag in between knitting sessions. They also keep your needle tips from stabbing your knitting!

This handy Knitting Accessory Kit by Clover is the perfect starter pack for a beginner! It contains a great collection of basic knitting tools such as stitch markers, stitch holders, tape measure, point protectors, row counter, and a needle gauge. Every item in here is bound to come in handy as you expand your knitting vocabulary.

The (in)famous Knit Kit is another great package of knitting essentials with the added bonus of coming in a compact case that’s perfect for travel, or just grab & go for all your summer errands!

Keep your hand made items looking fresh and neat with the Gleener Fuzz Remover. It removes pills and fuzz balls from the fabric and even works as the best lint brush ever. And yes, use it on cushions and car seats too!

Women’s March Brings Knitting to the Front Lines

by Annette Corsino-Blair

Things have been buzzing at the shop for the last month or so.  Building to a crescendo of energy that I have not seen in quite a while.  People who haven’t knit in many years are blowing the dust off of their needles, wanting to take part in The Pussy Hat Project.

MY CONTRIBUTION TO THE MARCH

It’s a simple thing really:  make a hat with cat ears out of bright pink yarn and give to someone attending the Women’s March in Washington January 21, 2016.  But like any one effort when multiplied, that sea of pink at our nation’s capital and in many other states around the country and world will be a show of strength and solidarity.

It will be a reminder that women are are strong, valuable and relevant. We plan on rising up time and time again to stand up of our rights.

Did you know that women and children knitting socks and stockings helped finance both the Revolutionary and Civil Wars?  The call was put out and women stepped forward with action.  Always the silent heroes, they started The Sanitary Commission which later became The Red Cross.  When situations become challenging, women band together and get s*#% done!

YES WE ARE!

I have to admit that it’s been really fun reteaching these passion filled students.  May they be reminded of the importance of working with their hands in a community.  Knitting (and all of the fiber arts) brings us together as sisters and brothers of a common cord.

WE STILL HAVE LOTS OF PINK YARN IN STOCK!

Community of Knitters: Yarny New Year’s Resolutions

We asked our community of knitters and crocheters (some of whom are pictured above, at our Branch Gallery opening reception) what their yarny new year’s resolutions were, and here’s what they had to say:

“Learn brioche, knit something for my husband, and make lots of socks.”

-Megan, 33, mom

“Write my own steeked cardigan pattern.”

-Alex, 23, program assistant

“Figure out how to knit a sweater that is in a childhood picture of mine.”

-Sonny, 55, landscaper

“Buy, buy, buy, and knit, knit, knit. Also give away old stash and start anew.”

-Laurie, nana

“Complete some of the projects that I started in 2015.”

-Chris, 54, yarn dude

“Use up my stash, learn to crochet, and knit more baby clothes and accessories.”

-Brenda, 62, eligibility worker for L.A. County

“Go on more knitting trips.”

-Ana, 73, race car driver

“Learn to tapestry crochet, be a more creative knitter, and deplete my stash so I can buy more yarn at The Knitting Tree, L.A.”

-Natalie, attorney

“Finally knit a pair of socks!”

-Aneesa, 23, artist

“Take more classes at The Knitting Tree, L.A. and generously support my favorite yarn store so its business will grow and thrive!”

-Nan, 62, registered nurse

“Make a sweater that is wearable.”

-Hilary

“Limit myself to two open projects at a time. (Ha ha ha!)”

-Deborah, 51

“PENGUONO!”

-Alina, 28, musician/yarn seller

“More designing. Finishing what I start! Knitting a sweater for my husband. ❤ ❤ <3”

-Annette, 53, artist

“Be happy with all my projects and knit more for myself.”

-Joyce, 53, senior program manager

 

Happy New Year from all of us at The Knitting Tree, L.A.!

 

 

 

Yarny Pro: Angela of Celestial Strings

Angela, the dyer behind Celestial Strings, talks fiber, color, inspiration, gaming, space, and dyeing in the desert. See twelve of her fabulous colorways, including The Knitting Tree, L.A. exclusive, on two different yarns — Supersquish Bulky and Galaxy Tweed DK — in store and online.